Love Story Focuses on Overlooked Victims of JFK Jr. Tragedy

Executive producer explains why Carole Radziwill is not portrayed in the FX miniseries

Mar. 19, 2026 at 3:34pm

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The FX miniseries "Love Story" about the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette does not include Carole Radziwill, despite her close friendship with the couple. Executive producer Brad Simpson explains that the decision was made to focus on Carolyn's sister Lauren, who was also killed in the 1999 plane crash, in order to highlight an often overlooked victim of the tragedy.

Why it matters

Carole Radziwill was a close confidant of both John and Carolyn, and her absence from the miniseries may have seemed puzzling to viewers familiar with the real-life story. However, the producers' choice to center the narrative around Lauren Bessette sheds light on how the tragedy is often overshadowed by the high-profile deaths of John and Carolyn.

The details

Radziwill, who was married to John's cousin Anthony, was present at John and Carolyn's wedding and the two women confided in each other as they dealt with personal struggles. However, Radziwill is not depicted or even mentioned in the show. Executive producer Brad Simpson explains that the decision was made to focus on creating Lauren Bessette, Carolyn's sister, as a central character since she was often an afterthought in the coverage of the tragedy.

  • The plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn Bessette, and Lauren Bessette occurred in 1999.

The players

Carole Radziwill

A former star of The Real Housewives of New York who was married to John F. Kennedy Jr.'s cousin Anthony and was close friends with both John and Carolyn Bessette.

John F. Kennedy Jr.

The son of President John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, who died in a plane crash in 1999 along with his wife Carolyn Bessette.

Carolyn Bessette

The wife of John F. Kennedy Jr. who died in a plane crash in 1999 along with her husband and her sister Lauren.

Lauren Bessette

The sister of Carolyn Bessette who was also killed in the 1999 plane crash that took the lives of John and Carolyn.

Brad Simpson

The executive producer of the FX miniseries "Love Story" about the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette.

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What they’re saying

“A decision we made was to really focus on creating Lauren, [Bessette's] sister, as a character because she was often an afterthought in all of this. And so we thought it was important that, when Carolyn needed a confidant, it be her sister because they were very close.”

— Brad Simpson, Executive Producer

The takeaway

By centering the narrative around Lauren Bessette, the producers of "Love Story" have shed light on how the often overlooked victims of high-profile tragedies can be overshadowed by the more famous individuals involved. This storytelling decision highlights the importance of remembering all those impacted by such events.